Weekly Update 12/16

 Dear Wines Families, 

Well, here we are with the final message of 2020. It’s certainly been a different and challenging year, but I’m happy to have you all part of my life during these times and I look forward to brighter days in 2021! 

Report Cards and Assessment Data

Tomorrow, every family will receive one or two emails from me. All families will receive an email with a secure link to your child’s report card. Grades 2-5 will receive a second email with a secure link to your child’s NWEA report. Grades K/1 will receive a second email with your child’s local math assessment data. Young 5’s will receive just the report card. I’ve done a lot of email gymnastics to get these all set up in our system and I’m crossing my fingers that I did everything right! 

Below are links to letters by grade level with some explanation of the assessment data and for grades K-2, directions for how you can access your child’s Lexia reading data that is part of the fall assessment reporting. 

Please let me know if you have any issues or questions about these items. 

K/1 Letter

2nd grade letter

3rd-5th grade letter

Go Nemo Go!!  

Tune in to the Food Network on December 28th at 9pm & 10pm to watch former Wines student and current Forsythe 6th grader, Nemo Tsai, premiere on the “Kids Baking Championship”. He will be on weekly until he is eliminated. If he’s eliminated!! Here’s a press release about the show. 

Restaurant Fundraisers

On January 12, Wines will be participating with Noodles and Company for a fundraiser. 25% of proceeds of takeout and delivery that evening will go to Wines. Below is a flyer with more information. 

And speaking of Nemo Tsai, we will be partnering with his family’s restaurant, Godaiko, later this winter! 

I hope everyone can find some time for rest and rejuvenation during the upcoming winter break. 

David

Weekly Update 12/9

 Dear Wines Families, 

Sorry for the late message today, it’s been a long day of Zoom!!! 

As always, I hope this finds you well. Having said that, I do know that “well” is a relative term right now. As I said last week, I do find myself with a level of optimism for 2021 but I also know that we are all living in extraordinarily challenging times right now and we are all impacted in myriad ways. While we are a virtual community, we are still a community and I want everyone to know that with Wines being a central part of our community, we are with you and here to support you and your family in any way we can. 

Report Cards

Soon you will be receiving information regarding how to access your child’s fall report card. Report cards will be available next Thursday, Dec. 17. While our traditional report card has undergone some minor revisions due to the virtual environment, in most ways it is nearly exactly like previous years’ reports. Though it isn’t exactly like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole, there are some limitations to our report cards this fall with virtual instruction. I say that only to let everyone know that our teachers are doing an extraordinary job of teaching each day and an equally extraordinary job of learning about and reporting on the strengths and growth areas for your child. As with any report card, this is just a snapshot in time for your child. It will provide valuable information, but only a partial picture. It is also just the first report card out of three for the school year and so it is just a beginning. As Shanna Middleton told me when my boys were in her Kindergarten classroom, this is a marathon and not a sprint and so I don’t want families to spend undo time worrying about your child’s report card or progress. Your child IS making progress and we will continue to support them in their learning as the year goes on and work with you in partnership to have a successful school year. 

That’s all for now. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions. 

David

Weekly Update 12/2

Dear Wines Families, 

I hope this finds everyone well. It is amazing that we find ourselves here in December. I know we ALL likely are looking forward to the end of 2020, though the struggles of this year will certainly continue into 2021. I do currently find myself with increased optimism that life will ultimately get back to normal for all of us at some point in 2021. 

Book Fair Continues

Just a reminder that our virtual Book Fair continues through Dec. 16. Click HERE for the fair’s website to browse. 

Sora

While the Book Fair will help get real books into our hands, did you know that our students have access to fiction eBooks through a platform called Sora?  Mrs. Evaldson has explored Sora with grades two through five during library class, and it is available for the younger children with some adult help. Sora is found on the Resource Portal on the Library Schoology page of your child’s home base.  Mrs. Evaldson will leave the slide deck with instructions up through December. It is easy to set up and will offer your child many wonderful choices for recreational reading. The AAPS collection was selected by AAPS librarians and the Midwest Collaborative collection comes for the AADL.  

Click here for An Introduction to Sora and Sora FAQs.  Please contact Mrs. Evaldson if you have any questions (evaldson@aaps.k12.mi.us) 

Wines Directory

Recently I’ve received a few inquiries about the Wines Directory. I did send it out a number of weeks ago, but I’m sure many of us have lost track of some of our emails!! In today's email, I again sent everyone the directory. 

Supply Distribution

There are still a handful of families who have not picked up art supplies and/or Math Journal 2 and/or 5th grade instruments. If you still need these items, please email me directly and I’ll arrange a touch-free pick up for you. 

That’s it for this week. Please stay safe and stay positive and let me know if you have any questions or concerns. 

David